Leslie E. Tassell MTEC

Information sessions

GRCC's Job Training programs offer information sessions and tours of the Tassell MTEC every two weeks. Please note that the tour does not include the Machine Tool/CNC Lab (located in the Wisner-Bottrall Applied Technology Center), or the Health Care program Labs (Peter and Pat Cook Academic Hall and Holland Home).

Register for a job training information session

Tours

To schedule a one hour tour for groups over 10 people (max. 25), or to arrange for a team from the Tassell MTEC to come visit your school or organization, please contact Jeff Byrd at jabyrd@grcc.edu.

Career Advancement Center

The Career Advancement Center is located at the MTEC and offers enrollment, assessment, counseling, financial, career and computer lab services. It is open to both prospective, current and past students. 

Office Hours 

The Career Advancement Center (CAC) is open to see walk-in students during limited hours. You can make an appointment by calling (616) 234-3800.

Monday-Thursday: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Please call for updated times on the services available.

Services include: 

• Enrollment assistance
• Advising
• Tours
• Application assistance
• Financial aid
• Assessments
• Student support
• Counseling tutors
• Library services
• Career assistance
• Labor market information
• Resume and cover letter critique
• Job referrals
• Open lab with printer access
• Raider card printing

About Leslie E. Tassell

A self-made man in every respect, Les Tassell began his illustrious career with humble beginnings. It was here in Grand Rapids that he began the long, successful journey that led him to become a contented family man whose hard work not only provided a great legacy for his children and grandchildren, but enhanced the community around him.

His family emigrated from Europe to Canada when Tassell was a young child. Later, they headed south to the United States where he began learning the tool-and-die trade at age 15, sharpening saw blades and running errands. In between fetching tools and doing menial tasks, he learned to work in the metal arts. This enabled him to find work in Pontiac when the Great Depression hit and caused layoffs in Grand Rapids.

Weathering the Depression and WWII on the east side of the state, he took advantage of the post-WWII economic boom by investing with a partner in a machine-and-tool company. Little more than a decade after that venture began, he opened up a new facility on 150 acres of land located at the corner of 32nd St. and Shaffer Ave. SE. The Leslie Metal Arts Co. specialized in tool-and-die services, and quickly became better known as Lescoa.

Lescoa grew to become a $220 million company with a staff of nearly 2,000. The success of the company is largely attributable to Tassell’s philosophy that one must care about employees and the work they are doing in order to have a productive working relationship. In keeping with this family atmosphere, Tassell made sure that his workers received bonuses when he finally sold the company in 1999.

Before he passed away on March 19, 2004, Tassell divided his time between his estate in Cascade Township and his marina in the Florida Keys. Though his pace had slowed, he was as tireless and diligent as ever, devoting a few hours a day at the office to keeping tabs on Lescoa’s operations as part of Meridian Automotive Systems.

As a generous philanthropist, he has made large contributions to build the educational resources of West Michigan. His benevolence enabled Grand Valley State University to build not only an engineering building, but a health professional building as well.

Leslie Tassell knew the value of education, innovation and hard work, and he saw the great opportunity that a facility like the Leslie E. Tassell MTEC provides for the community. For all of these things, Grand Rapids Community College is proud that the MTEC building in downtown Grand Rapids bears the name of Leslie E. Tassell.